Hollywood star Robert De Niro has said he his showing "love and support" for his daughter Airyn, after she came out as being transgender.

In a recent interview with LGBTQ+ publication Them, Airyn De Niro spoke about "stepping into this new identity".

Airyn's famous father told Variety in a statement: "I loved and supported Aaron as my son, and now I love and support Airyn as my daughter.

"I don't know what the big deal is," he added. "I love all my children."

'Honest and open'

The Goodfellas actor's daughter, 29, noted how she began to transition last year because, as a transgender women, "there's a difference between being visible and being seen.

"I've been visible. I don't think I've been seen yet."

Airyn, daughter of De Niro and Toukie Smith, also said the actress Laverne Cox had been an inspiration and that she now hoped to help expand trans visibility and to honour her black queer ancestors.

"Trans women being honest and open, especially [in] public spaces like social media and getting to see them in their success… I'm like, you know what? Maybe it's not too late for me."

And with regard to the experience of being one of seven De Niro children, she went on say that "no parent is perfect, but I am grateful that both my parents agreed to keep me out of the limelight.

"They have told me they wanted me to have as much of a normal childhood as possible."

The rights of transgender women in the UK have been challenged in recent weeks, after judges at the Supreme Court unanimously ruled a woman is defined by biological sex under equalities law.

Now the UK's only ever judge to publicly say they are transgender is planning to take the government to the European Court of Human Rights over the ruling which she said violated her human rights.

Tesla has denied reports that it has contacted recruitment firms to launch a search for a replacement for Elon Musk as chief executive.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that the electric car firm's board began looking for a successor to Mr Musk last month.

It said this was because of frustration around Mr Musk's focus on his job in US President Donald Trump's administration and Tesla's sinking share price.

However, in statement on Thursday, Tesla said the report was "absolutely false", adding "the board is highly confident in [Mr Musk's] ability to continue executing on the exciting growth plan ahead".

What was the FA's previous policy?

Staff at Co-op are being ordered to keep their cameras on during remote work meetings, and verify all attendees, as the company deals with an ongoing cyber attack.

In an internal email to the 70,000 members of staff at the supermarket, funeral service and insurance company, workers are being urged to be vigilant as IT teams work to ensure hackers aren't inside their systems.

"Don't record or transcribe Teams calls", the instructions say.

It comes as supermarket Marks & Spencer (M&S) struggles with a major ransomware attack. It is not known if the hacks are linked.

Cyber security consultant Jen Ellis says the email implies that Co-op is worried about the presence of hackers.

"Reminding employees to keep their cameras on during conference calls is one way of enabling work to continue while ensuring that everyone is really who they claim to be, and no one unexpected is participating in calls," she told the BBC.

Co-op said on Wednesday that it had shut down parts of its IT systems in response to hackers attempting to gain access.

It said it was taking "proactive measures" to fend off the attack had had a "small impact" on its call centre and back office.

But the internal email shows the company has shut off all remote access.

No internal applications that require a VPN (Virtual Private Network) can be logged into from home and workers are being told to go to a Co-op location if they need to access work tools.

They are also being urged not to post any sensitive information into Teams chats and to report any suspicious messages or emails.

The internal email was first reported by ITV News and confirmed by Co-op to the BBC.

Co-op is insisting that the cyber attack is under control and that all measures are "proactive".

In the past, cyber criminals have accessed internal messaging systems of companies including Uber and Rockstar Games to spy on communications and post ransom demands.

These kinds of tactics were used by a group called Lapsus$ which was made up of English speaking teenagers - two of whom were arrested and convicted in the UK in 2023.

The attack against M&S is being linked to a potential spin of from Lapsus$ known as Scattered Spider which has been responsible for high profile hacks against MGM Grand casino and Transport for London (TfL).

As part of TfL's response to its cyber attack all staff had to report to security teams in person to ensure that the hackers were fully kicked out of IT systems.

The incident that has crippled M&S is a ransomware attack using the DragonForce cyber crime service.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed it is looking into the cyber attack at M&S.

"Detectives from the Met's cyber crime unit are investigating," it said in a statement.

M&S has also reported it to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).

The BBC understands the body is urging other retailers to be vigilant but it's not thought that retailers are a specific target.

An NCSC spokesperson said: "The NCSC routinely engages with a whole range of organisations about the cyber threats that the UK faces and regularly reminds them about the steps they can take to be as resilient as possible."

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The Traitors star Minah Shannon is joining BBC Radio 1 as a presenter.

The Liverpool-based reality TV personality will co-host Friday Early Breakfast with Nat O'Leary throughout May.

Minah said she hoped to "brighten up listeners' mornings" on the show, which is broadcast between 05:00 and 07:00.

The duo will present a special show live from Liverpool on 23 May to help kick off the Radio 1 Big Weekend 2025 celebrations in the city.

Thirty-year-old Minah became a fan favourite and was the longest-standing Traitor of the 2025 series.

During her time on the show, fans watched as she tricked the 'faithful' contestants by banishing fellow traitors Armani and Linda. Her performance took her all the way to the final episodes, only voted out two days before the final.

Her move of recruiting Charlotte to be a fellow traitor was ultimately her downfall, as at Minah's final round table, it was Charlotte's vote which sealed her fate and saw her banished from the castle.

Minah currently works as a call centre manager in Liverpool, where she lives with her husband Liam and daughter Luna.

"I am so excited to be presenting every Friday in May on Radio 1's Early Breakfast," Minah said.

"Getting to present alongside Nat O'Leary is going to be so much fun.

"We discovered we both attended the same university and used to hang out in all the same places, so it feels like it was meant to be.

"If we can give the lovely listeners a laugh, then mission accomplished!"

O'Leary said she was "excited" to be joining Minah on the show.

"Minah's energy is electric, so I know we're gonna cause some chaos and bring some fun to your Friday early mornings," she said.

"Can't wait to wake up with you babes!"

'Emerging presenters'

In June, the same slot will be presented by Lauren Redfern.

Lauren joined the Radio 1 Anthems extension in November 2024, having impressed through her work with the Student Radio Association network.

Her first show will be on 6 June.

Aled Haydn Jones, Head of Radio 1, said: "The Friday Early Breakfast slot has become a key platform for emerging presenters to find their voice and connect with the Radio 1 listeners.

"I'm really excited about this next wave of presenters – Minah and Nat will be a great team in May, and I'm looking forward to welcoming Lauren to the slot in June."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

With parts of the UK expected to reach 29C on Thursday, this week's spring heatwave will undoubtedly have an effect on plants - both inside and outdoors.

Experts say that while the unusually warm weather this early in the year could pose some issues for some plants, others stand to benefit and flourish.

Indoor plants will need protecting, and trees could suffer - but outdoor plants may thrive if watered properly, in particular those producing fruit.

Here's what the experts we spoke to had to say about the warm weather - and what they advise green-fingered folk do to make the most of it.

Indoor plants

Increased temperatures and too much direct sunlight can have a negative effect on houseplants.

Signs like wilting, drooping, or changing colour could indicate that the heat is getting to your beloved leafy greens.

Conservatories and greenhouses, similarly, can get too hot unless shading is provided, Guy Barter, the Royal Horticultural Society's chief horticulturist, told the BBC.

"Houseplants can scorch in bright sunlight unless moved back deeper into rooms where there is more shade."

He suggested providing additional shading from now until September to prevent heat damage.

If space is a factor, using a sheer curtain can also help mitigate the impacts of direct sunlight.

Fruits and veggies

The warmer than average start to May is already having a noticeable affect on the timing of this year's harvest, according to Pauline Goodall, a strawberry farmer from Limington in Somerset.

In the past week, she told BBC Breakfast her small farm had gone from filling three to four trays of strawberries a day to 50.

"They're just ripening at a phenomenal rate."

Helena Dove, head of Kew Gardens' kitchen garden, said they had also already seen ripe strawberries - and that this was a trend for other fruits being grown in the UK.

"Traditionally, a good kitchen gardener would be proud to have ripe strawberries by Wimbledon," she told the BBC.

However, Mr Barter cautioned that while the days were warmer, night time temperatures were still relatively low, limiting the "helpful" effects of the warmth.

He said the risk of frost would pass in the south soon, allowing "frost-tender plants" such as dahlias and tomatoes to be planted outside.

Outdoor plants

During times of hotter weather, outdoor plants and flowers will typically require more water than usual.

That's particularly true for plants that have recently been put in the ground, according to Tony Hall, the head of Kew Gardens' temperate collections. He told the BBC it was essential that they are well watered "to encourage a deep root system".

"Hot weather tends to weed out plants that are in poor health and already struggling, but this can present an opportunity to plant something that is more drought tolerant," he said.

Mr Barter said newly sown seeds and recently planted vegetables, flowers and shrubs will need "careful watering" until they grow their roots out enough.

But he added that more warmth and extra light earlier in the year "helps them send out strong roots to counter any drought later in the summer".

For both indoor and outdoor plants, the advice is to water in morning or evening, but not in the middle of the day when the water will evaporate quickly.

Trees

At this time of year, trees are enter into their leaf expansion phase - a process that demands substantial physiological resources, including water.

Kevin Martin, Kew Gardens' head of trees, explained that the recent warmer weather - coupled with an existing soil moisture deficit - is creating a "worrying" situation.

If these conditions persist, he warned it could hamper a tree's ability to carry out photosynthesis, reducing growth and leaving them exposed to further decline over the summer.

Mr Martin suggested planting "better-suited species" of trees that have "greater built-in resilience as we experience more extreme conditions".

What should I plant for future warm weather?

This recent bout of warm weather is because of a fluctuation in the jet stream - a river of fast-flowing air that tends to divide warmer air close to the equator from colder air further north - bringing warm air up from the Mediterranean.

While scientists say climate change is making these fluctuations more erratic, how much influence climate change has on particular weather events requires a full scientific study.

Paul Hadaway, from Kent Wildlife Trust, told the BBC that the spring heatwave was part of a larger trend of "seasonality breaking down".

"Last year we had a mild winter, warm spring and then we had a wet summer – and that's not good for wildlife that's learned to adapt to a certain climate pattern," he told BBC Breakfast.

He said people in the UK could mitigate the negative effects of this seasonal breakdown by rethinking "how we manage our naturals areas", including planting new species that are better accustomed to these extreme swings.

Ms Dove, of Kew's kitchen garden, said that while "traditional" fruits like apples were struggling, "the warm spring means crops like citrus, kiwi, and tropical plants are thriving earlier, with longer seasons and better yields".

She added: "We're even growing peaches, apricots, and nectarines outside currently, something that would have been unthinkable in previous years due to the risk of late frosts and lack of early pollinators."

Meanwhile, the RHS says species of oak and ash tree could be more adaptable to withstand extreme changes in the seasons.

The world's oldest person, Brazilian nun Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas, has died at the age of 116.

Born on 8 June 1908 in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, Inah Canabarro Lucas became a Catholic nun in her early 20s.

Her family said she always celebrated her birthday with a cake in the shape of the stadium of her beloved Sport Club Internacional - Porto Alegre's football team.

Sister Inah, who was blessed by Pope Francis in 2018, put her longevity down to her faith, saying that "he [God] is the secret to life". The title of the oldest living person will now pass to 115-year-old Ethel Caterham from Surrey in England.

Sister Inah's nephew said the 116-year-old had not had any illness but her body "had gradually stopped" working. She died in the city of Porto Alegre at a home belonging to the Teresian Sisters, the religious community she was part of.

A keen football fan, she had celebrated her 116th birthday wearing the scarf of her favourite team.

She also owned several Internacional shirts and even had a collection of pillows adorned with the team's logo, according to media reports.

Sport Club Internacional posted a message of condolence on X, saying it had learned "with enormous sadness of her passing" and celebrated her life, which it said was based on kindness, faith and love of the football club.

Sister Rita Fernandes Barbosa, a co-ordinator at the religious home where Sister Inah lived, told RBS TV that the 116-year-old had enjoyed good health for most of her life.

Sister Rita said the nun had not had any surgeries until she underwent a cataract operation aged 106.

Her family said that she could not hear or see very well towards the end of her life but that she enjoyed sticking to a routine.

"She liked to get up, eat, and pray and sleep at the same time each day," her relatives told Brazilian TV.

A fellow Teresian nun said that Sister Inah "never complained".

"She is very grateful, and good-humoured," Sister Terezinha Aragon told Brazilian TV in January, when Sister Inah became the world's oldest person after the death of the previous holder of the title, Japanese woman Tomiko Itooka at the age of 116.

Born on 8 June 1908, Sister Inah had a religious vocation from early on in her life, joining a religious boarding school at the age of 16.

She lived in the Uruguayan capital, Montevideo, for some time before taking her vows but returned to Brazil in 1930, where she taught Portuguese and maths at a school in Rio.

Sister Rita put the 116-year-old's longevity down to discipline.

"Discipline in her work and in her life, she always worked a lot and was always very sociable and welcoming."

The authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo are seeking to lift former President Joseph Kabila's immunity from prosecution after accusing him of backing rebels in the east.

There was a "substantial body of documents, testimony and material facts" linking Kabila to the M23 armed group, Justice Minister Constant Mutamba said on Wednesday.

The M23 currently controls parts of the mineral-rich east of the country after making significant advances earlier this year.

Kabila, 53, has not commented on the accusations but has in the past denied any connection with the insurgents.

He led DR Congo for 18 years, after succeeding his father Laurent, who was shot dead in 2001. Joseph Kabila was just 29 at the time.

After stepping down, he was given the title of "senator for life", which gives him legal immunity.

In order to pursue a legal case, DR Congo's military prosecutor has asked the senate to overturn this.

There were reports last month that Kabila had returned to the country – visiting M23-held Goma - after spending two years in South Africa.

But these were denied by his political party, the People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy.

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

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The US and Ukraine have signed a deal that will give Washington access to some of the war-torn country's natural resources.

Months in the making, it sets up an investment fund that Ukraine hopes will cement US assistance as the country struggles to repel Russia three years after the invasion.

The BBC has seen a draft of the deal but not the final text. Based on that and the public statements from both sides, here are seven key takeaways.

No Ukrainian payback to US

Trump has previously demanded that Ukraine pay back the $350bn (£264bn) of aid that he claims has been provided by the US during the war - a condition that Zelensky rejected.

But Washington appears to have made a concession. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said the agreement did not dictate that his country pay back any supposed "debt".

• Follow reaction to deal as it happens
• What minerals does Ukraine have?

Trump has styled the agreement as a win for his side as well, saying his country will get back "much more in theory" than the billions that were provided to Ukraine by his predecessor Joe Biden.

Tougher tone from US towards Putin

The language used by the US in announcing the deal is notably harsher towards Russia than is usually the case from the Trump administration.

A statement by the US Treasury Department refers to "Russia's full scale invasion" and adds that "no state or person who financed or supplied the Russian war machine will be allowed to benefit from the reconstruction of Ukraine".

This will hearten Kyiv, which has demanded more pressure be placed on Russia in talks between Moscow and Washington discussing a possible ceasefire.

Oil and gas included alongside minerals

Despite the fact that much of the talk around the deal relates to Ukraine's mineral wealth, the agreement also includes provisions for new oil and gas projects, and related infrastructure.

In all cases, the resources stay in Ukrainian ownership, even though the US will get joint access.

This has been seen as a softening of the Ukrainian position, since it was not in earlier drafts of the deal.

No hindrance to Kyiv's EU ambitions

Ukraine has long aspired to join the European Union and accession talks formally began last June.

There were some concerns in Kyiv that the resources deal could hinder Ukraine's ability to join the EU, if it gave preferential treatment to US investors, as Kyiv and Brussels already have a strategic partnership on raw materials.

But the deal's text says that the US acknowledges Ukraine's intention to join the EU and the need for this agreement not to conflict with that.

It also says that if Ukraine needs to revisit the terms of the deal because of "additional obligations" as part of joining the EU, then the US agrees to negotiate in good faith.

Additionally, Kyiv says the US will support additional transfers of investment and technology in Ukraine, including from the EU and elsewhere.

Profits to be reinvested in Ukraine for 10 years

Another intriguing element of the deal is that, for the first decade of the reconstruction investment fund, profits will be "fully reinvested in Ukraine's economy".

This is potentially significant if there is no financial benefit for the US for 10 years. Ukraine says it expects that any money that comes into the fund will go towards rebuilding the country and new projects.

After that initial period, profits may be distributed between the partners. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News that the deal was a signal to the American people that "we have a chance to participate, get some of the funding and the weapons, compensation for those and be partners with the success of the Ukraine people".

A US military commitment back on table...

The US has framed the deal as an essential one to sign if Ukraine is to continue to receive its military assistance.

Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko - who flew to Washington DC to sign the deal - said it envisaged the US contributing new assistance in the future, such as air defence systems.

• How much has US given to Ukraine?

This, too, would mark a change in strategy for Trump - who has sought to wind down military support for Ukraine since returning to the White House.

One outstanding question is what the accord will ultimately mean for the state of the war. The Kremlin has not yet responded to the agreement.

...but US can still walk away any time

It appears there are no concrete security guarantees from the US, which is something Ukraine and Europe have long been pushing the White House to provide.

Trump has long been reluctant to give the same military commitment that Biden had given.

Instead, his interest in staying the course with US support for Ukraine is more implicit, due to the economic commitments set out in this deal.

That means there would still be a fragility about the commitment of Ukraine's most important ally.

What was the FA's previous policy?

The Metropolitan Police's counter-terror officers will investigate online videos showing rap trio Kneecap calling for the death of British MPs and shouting "up Hamas, up Hezbollah".

A video emerged of the west Belfast trio at a November 2023 gig appearing to show one person from the band saying: "The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP."

Both Hamas and Hezbollah are banned in the UK and it is a crime to express support for them.

Some gigs featuring the band have since been cancelled in the controversy.

On Thursday, the Met Police said: "On April 22, we were made aware of an online video believed to be from a music event in London in November 2024.

"Following this, we were made aware of a further video, believed to be from another music event in London in November 2023.

"Both videos were referred to the Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit for assessment by specialist officers, who have determined there are grounds for further investigation into potential offences linked to both videos.

"The investigation is now being carried out by officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command and inquiries remain ongoing at this time."

In a statement earlier this week, Kneecap said they rejected "any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual. Ever."

They stated that "an extract of footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it were a call to action".

Referring to two MPs who have been murdered in the UK in recent years, the trio added: "To the Amess and Cox families, we send our heartfelt apologies, we never intended to cause you hurt."

Kneecap have faced criticism and commercial consequences after displaying messages about the war in Gaza during their set at US music festival Coachella earlier this month.

They were dropped by their sponsor and booking agent Independent Artist Group (IAG) and former X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne called for Kneecap's US work visas to be revoked.

Following this, footage emerged from a previous gig, which is now under investigation by counter-terrorism officers.

Artists support Kneecap

A number of artists have signed a joint statement in support of Kneecap.

Fontaines DC, Annie Mac, Bicep, Massive Attack, Pulp, Paul Weller and Christy Moore are among the artists who signed the open letter by Kneecap's record label, Heavenly Recordings.

The statement said there had been a "clear, concerted attempt to censor and ultimately deplatform" the band.

It accused "senior political figures" in Westminster and the UK media of being "openly engaged in a campaign to remove Kneecap from the public eye".

"As artists, we feel the need to register our opposition to any political repression of artistic freedom," the statement added.

"In a democracy, no political figures or political parties should have the right to dictate who does and does not play at music festivals or gigs that will be enjoyed by thousands of people."

Who are Kneecap?

Kneecap are an Irish-speaking rap trio who have courted controversy with their provocative lyrics and merchandise.

The group was formed in 2017 by three friends who go by the stage names of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí.

Their rise to fame inspired a semi-fictionalised film starring Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender.

The film won a British Academy of Film Award (Bafta) in February 2025.